Microsoft and Gawad Kalinga leave no one behind

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Barangay Walang Iwanan gearing to end poverty for 5M Filipinos

The Philippines is a country undergoing rapid transformation as it navigates the 4th industrial revolution. Today, digital technologies are transforming the lives of many Filipinos in regions across the country. 

(L to R) Jose Luis Oquinena, Executive Director of Gawad Kalinga, Irwin Lee, CEO of Rustans Supercenters Inc., Hans Bayaborda, Managing Director of Microsoft PH, Mayor Joan Lorenzano-Aquende of Castilla, Sorsogon, Tony del Rosario, Gawad Kalinga Trustee, Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo, President, HARI Foundation, Inc. Cong. Karlo Nograles, Chairman, 2018 Budget & Committee, Fr. Ben Nebres S.J., Former President of ADMU

As the country moves forward, we mustn’t forget that approximately 21.6% of the Philippine population still live below the poverty line and have limited access to much needed resources.

Hans Bayaborda, Managing Director of Microsoft Philippines reiterated their commitment to serving the underserved. “Our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Through advances in technology like cloud computing and IOT, we enable people and organizations to reach those that the market may not be able to reach.” 

Through partnerships with several organizations, Microsoft continues to transform industries through four key pillars: engaging users, empowering employees, optimizing operations, and transforming institutions. 

In the recent Social Business Summit 2018 in Angat, Bulacan, Gawad Kalinga (GK) launched “Barangay Walang Iwanan” (BWI), an enabling and empowering technology-based platform and ecosystem developed in partnership with Microsoft to help end poverty.

“There was a need to harness technology for effective and cost-efficient communication, timely reporting, data consolidation and storage, transparency, accountability, and sustainability,” said Bayaborda.

GK works on the frontlines of disaster preparedness and response in the Philippines. One of the applications of the BWI platform is during disasters when GK’s global network of volunteers is mobilized to bring help where it’s needed the most. Important information on the local population such as household composition, income, and livelihood provide GK with insights for better-informed and quicker decision-making. 

In addition, GK helps members of the community get back on their feet by linking them to sustainable livelihoods via BWI. Through data gathered on the ground, BWI can shorten supply chains -- from manpower to food resources -- effectively cutting the middle layers and increasing profit at the lowest level.

“Barangay Walang Iwanan is a testament to GK’s mission of ending poverty, as well as Microsoft’s commitment to empowering everyone. We’ve been working with GK for more than 9 years now, and this ambitious project is a product of that strong relationship,” added Bayaborda.

Microsoft has a long history of supporting GK on technology and programs that aim to equip all youth to be future ready. Projects such as Raising Social Innovators, WeSpeakCode, and Innovate have provided underserved Filipino youth with access to digital skills which will be critical for their future. 

Through BWI, GK and Microsoft hope to create a culture of caring within the community and to build solidarity by connecting resources where they are needed so that no one is left behind. 

“BWI is a great step forward to ending poverty in the Philippines. Microsoft will continue to work with GK towards this mission of inclusion. Through technology, data can be used to drive value, development, and economics transition to more communities across the Philippines and ensure that nobody gets left behind, walang iwanan,” added Bayaborda.

To learn more about how Microsoft Philanthropies is advancing a future for everyone, visit www.microsoft.com/philanthropies.

Play Arena of Valor and win an OPPO F5 This Long-Weekend

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Thrilling 5v5 Multiplayer Online Battle Arena enjoyed best with the OPPO full screen family phones

OPPO Philippines teamed up with Arena of Valor, the fastest growing 5v5 multiplayer online battle arena in the Philippines, for something exciting this long weekend. From February 16-18, 2018, Arena of Valor will be having a special Lunar Year offer by giving red packets for every 5v5 Grand Battle or Ranked game which contains in-game items and the rare OPPO F5 Red! 

Each day, players may acquire up to 2 red packets which could contain 8 Hero Shards, 8 Skin Shards or the grand prize - the OPPO F5 Red! Players are encouraged to play over the long weekend for a chance to win one out of the five OPPO F5 Red smartphones to be given away! 

Experience seamless gaming with OPPO smartphones featuring its game acceleration, stop unwanted notification feature, and effortless boost system, best for playing games like Arena of Valor. Get to enjoy games in the best way you can with the latest 2.5GHz Octa-Core processor on the OPPO F5 series and A83, and its 18:9 Full Screen Display.

For more information, customers may visit https://www.oppo.com/ph/. They can also follow OPPO on Facebook via https://www.facebook.com/OPPOPH/ for the store list and latest updates. Arena of Valor is available on Google Play store for download.

Sitti Sings a Duet with Former Westlife Frontman Shane Filan

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Bossa Nova Queen Sitti recorded a duet with Irish pop sensation Shane Filan. They sang a cover of Lady Antebellum’s Grammy-award winning song, Need You Now. Their collab Need You Now is now out on Spotify on Apple Music.

The former Westlife front man is in the country to promote his 3rd studio album “Love Always” released under MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines).

Sitti shares, “I met Shane the day before our performance in Robinson’s Place Manila. We did a run through of the song and MCA shot a few sequences of us singing. It was a very nice initial meeting! We both sank into the song and I’m very excited to sing with him in front of a live audience.”

Sitti is a talent of Asian Artists Agency. For inquiries, please call (02) 855-4765 or (02) 405-4423, emailinfo@asianartistsagency.com, and visit fb.com/asianartistsagenc y

DITCH CHEMICAL ROMANCE FOR NATURAL LOVE THIS V-DAY WITH NOVUHAIR

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Its Valentine’s month once again! A month full of seeking to perfectly express your love in beautiful and fabulous ways. This is because they want to ensure they're the apple of the eye of their special someone come the romantic occasion of the year that they will celebrate together. 

So if you find yourself being whisked away to a charming place or have planned on a candle-lit dinner date with your beloved, you’ve got every reason to get all glammed up on Hearts Day! Why not? T’is a celebration of love after all. 

Make a big impact by putting together a look that brings out the best in you. From your clothes and make-up to the tiny details that count, you have many options to get that stunning aura on V-Day. 

Better start with the hair, which usually draws attention to a person. Per studies, a head full of hair indicates youth and health at its best. Power and stability, on the other hand, corresponds to a long, shiny tress. A bouncy bob means bubbly personality. Meanwhile, curly locks add to masculinity and femininity. 

Gotta hair like them? Well, don’t lose hope if you ain’t have any. All you need is love. And what a better way if it comes out naturally in you. Taking good care of it should not be enforced, but rather a rewarding pamper for yourself. This applies, too, when choosing the right product for your mane. 

Stay away from chemical-based ones. This is a “must”, especially when dealing with problems like shedding or thinning of the hair. Most of which contain parabens as preservative, according to aesthetics and rejuvenation expert Dr. Cecilia Catapang.

“Through the years, as you use chemical-based product, slowly and little by little, your body absorbs the parabens, which accumulate to significant levels, enough to induce what is called an estrogen sensitive breast cancer,” she says.

Synthetic haircare products have several adverse effects because they are drugs. What you don't know about them might hurt you. So avoid it the next time you go over the counter for your supplies or ditch what you’re using today for naturally-made products because they aid in stimulating hair growth while maintaining its natural water, shine and vibrancy.

Amid a glut of chemical-free hair solutions out there, Dr. Catapang recommends NOVUHAIR for its being natural and compliant to the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive, which means it doesn’t have paraben. In addition of its safety benefits, this topical scalp lotion specifically is the only hair growth product in the market containing 19 natural herbs, essential oils and co-factor nutrients working synergistically to help remedy hair problems from growth to vanishing.

NOVUHAIR helps rejuvenate, nourish and maintain moisture in the scalp and improve the overall appearance of the tress. Lastly, it’s more effective and safe solution to help remedy hair loss and promote hair growth.

Sounds like it’s time to shift to “nature’s answer to hair loss”, ladies and gentlemen. It’s time to start loving again your hair with NOVUHAIR to enhance or bring back the old “crowning glory” to look your best in front of your dearest, or turning the head of a potential mate on you this V-Day. Let the love begin! 

Discover more ideas on how to embark on a wellness journey at www.coryquirino.com.

Mr. Click Inspires to #ClickWithYourHeart this Valentine’s

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Love is in the air! While streets are bound to be filled by all things affectionate and romantic this upcoming Valentine’s Day, Mr. Click, a digital marketing agency that focuses in enabling micro, small, and medium enterprises to compete in the digital realm through affordable and effective digital marketing services, has sparked personal reflection within the general public if love is still the common theme in the digital side of their lives through the agency’s recent online campaign. 

In a digital age where people are given the freedom to voice their opinions online, inciting and receiving cyber-attacks have become a consistent occurrence within this social-media-dependent society. Karen Brutas of the Foundation for Media Alternatives, indicated in a case study about Philippine online behavior, that the consideration of the Philippines as a social media capital of the world, arises the country’s need to stress for social media education and etiquette. While social media platforms offer incredible benefits that have changed the way we live – from connecting and keeping in touch with friends and loved ones to keeping ourselves updated about the world – these platforms also unleash destructive behavior from individuals that abuse the influence and reach of these mediums. The popular online behavior such as the rise of fake news is one; then the prevalence of cyberbullying is another.

This Valentine’s season, through the #ClickWithYourHeart video (https://www.facebook.com/mrclickesi/videos/758027267735850/), Mr. Click echoed these worrying online practices by society through their clever but genuine representation of three characters and scenarios that could be deemed relevant by any person that dabbles with social media (Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, etc.). 

Rather than going the usual route of sharing a romantic message for Valentine’s, Mr. Click opted to create an insightful video that presents the shortage of sharing love within society on social media. 

“In the two years of our agency’s existence, we have seen how prevalent hate is in online communities. Our community managers sometimes spend hours responding to mean comments in the social media accounts we handle,” said RJ Sustiguer, Interim President of Mr. Click eMarketing Services Inc. He adds, “With #ClickWithYourHeart, rather than preaching a specific message of love for Valentine’s, we primarily want netizens to reflect on whether their personas in social media are propagators of hate or love. With whatever conclusion they end up having, hopefully the insights they get from our video will inspire them to become better individuals in the digital world.”

From a marketing perspective, Mr. Click has successfully created a campaign that highlights a wrinkle within our society that needs to be addressed while effectively advocating the need for personal reflection to its audience in terms of their overall online conduct. 

About Mr. Click eMarketing, Services Inc:

Mr. Click is a digital marketing agency under the Mr. Group of Companies with a mission to enable micro, small, and medium enterprises to compete in the digital realm through affordable and effective digital marketing services, strong client relationship, and strategic synergies with industry partners; in order to attain the highest market share.